The idea of a vegetal but gourmet cuisine, even a vegan, organic, local and gluten-free binder in diets that meet the ethics towards animals, the protection of the environment, and the promotion of a way of life healthier … Of course, I’m not going to suggest that everyone go vegan, but to test this type of diet a bit.
And how did you come to be interested in this type of diet?
Two elements pushed me there.
· First of all, I don’t usually start with a very personal element: my son Tom-Edouard and his partner Célia have gone on a vegan gluten-free diet and that baffled me. I wanted to understand.
Then as a sociologist of youth, I noticed that the new generation was very attentive to our environment, to the ecological question, to the questions of animal suffering, a generation concerned by the long-term effects of global warming and of which concerns also join the organic and fair trade movement. In short, I wanted to understand this committed generation, these famous Millennials, this “sustainable generation” which wants to shake up our routines and our old habits. An optimistic generation, but not candid who believe that everyone can change the world by doing their part of the hummingbird, by small gestures and daily choices.
· The funny thing is that this type of diet is not that new! Already in the 6th century BC, Pythagoras advocated a vegetarian diet. The mathematician believed that all living things had a soul, and therefore also animals. Meat and fish were therefore banned from his table …
And today who is vegan?
A survey shows that among the 10 major transformations of the food system is the rise of vegetarianism, veganism and flexitarianism. And even if it is difficult to really count as there are so many different regimes, these regimes, even if they remain a very small minority in France, are around 4% but they are growing strongly in all generations and constitute a generational marker. , an increasingly strong trend among young people ”(nearly 10% among them).
What well-being paths to retain?
· The first is aimed at professionals: any restaurant or caterer should offer at least one vegan gluten-free menu, this is still very rare and yet the market will explode.
· The second to parents, it can be interesting to try from time to time a day or a vegan meal … a good way to discuss citizenship with your children as interlocutors who move the world.
Because we can combine pleasure and health, concern for others and for oneself. If it is a utopia, the vegan approach has less merit in improving the lot of non-human animals and in reminding us that we are not above nature but that we are part of it!